The other day a friend of mine decided enough was enough!  Cell phones discharge just too much of heat when kept close to the ear. After every call, he felt like he had cooked his ear a bit. He decided to start looking after his health and went in for one of those wireless contraptions that let you talk, yet not be too close to the vicinity of harmful radiation.  He tried out the hands free set that came with his cell phone. But when he lost an important call trying to unravel the wires to place the ear piece in his ear, he knew he had to have a better solution. After all, being a business man, you just can’t afford to miss your calls.

So he went in for one of the most useful and handy technologies recently invented  – The BLUETOOTH headset. 

Bluetooth? Ok for the most whimsical user, it has got no connection to your dents. Either blue or white! 

The history of Bluetooth goes back a long way to the time of the Vikings somewhere around the 10th century. King Harald Bluetooth Gormson, King of Denmark was synonymous in uniting Scandinavian Europe during the time this region was devastated by wars and feuds. Years and years later, the Swedish company Ericsson used this as an inspiration to come up with a new way of seamless, wireless technology in connecting different devices for data transfer. Thus, was born the Bluetooth Technology. 

Bluetooth – The Next Generation

Today, Bluetooth technology is how cell phones, computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), and a whole lot of devices can be effortlessly interconnected. Using a short range wireless connection mechanism, you make any device talk to another. 

Rarely is there a time and place where you don’t get to hear about this useful invention. It has changed the way people communicate and transfer data. The usefulness of Bluetooth has not only gained a mark in cell phone headsets, but in every aspect of data connectivity today.

The Bluetooth headset, a tiny device that can be snugly fitted into the ear and paired with your cell phone can provide great freedom from close contact radiation, messy wires and more comfort. Most headsets provide a minimum of 10 m range of connectivity. Fancy looking, the ear piece looks futuristic enough to remind you of Star Trek. 

Bluetooth range generally come in three defined ranges based on their output power. Class 3 that uses upto 1mW of power with a range of upto 10m. Class 2 with a power outage of 2.5mW that can extend up to 30m and the most powerful Class 1 having up to 100mW of power providing a wide range of upto 100m. 

Ok, so does it really protect user from the harmful radiations of a cell phone?

Cell phones transmit signals via short-range frequency, but the danger of radiation from the same frequency via a Bluetooth device is almost insignificant. Generally what happens is that Bluetooth headsets actually scatter signals in a haphazard direction and not as a single point beam. 

Health concerns about radiation from a Bluetooth headset is typically not a concern since the phone itself is placed away from the body. So you can put your mind at rest  and remember that the phone is a much bigger source of concern due to its high voltage, high emitting radiation.

Bluetooth and its many useful avatars

The use of a Bluetooth headset is also a safer option in some countries where the use of a cell phone while driving is not permitted. Ok, you may look funny talking to yourself if the headset is not immediately visible, but lets face it, it definitely provides a higher safety on the road for you and for others around you! 

For many, the wired headsets may seem like a better option, but remember you can’t separate the phone and the headset too much and wires ties you up. With the comfortable range that a Bluetooth can offer, you can put your phone inside your case in the back of your vehicle and still be able to use it. 

One of the most useful options of the Bluetooth is the multiple connectivity it offers. The Bluetooth headset connected to your computer can be used for voice teleconferencing for example. This multipart facility of the humble Bluetooth offers the advantage of having one headset for many uses!

Choosing your headset

Selecting a Bluetooth headset can sometimes be quite tricky and for the first time user, there is a wide range of styles available to choose from.

All good headsets include a battery, a earpiece and an ear clip. They can never be small or lightweight enough compared to a wired headset because of these extra fittings. However higher end models today range with slight differences in sizes and lengths with most being designed to be as small as possible.

Mainly, Bluetooth headsets come in two different styles. One with a ear clip that can be attached over the ear and the headset resting on the outer ear. Or the other that is physically inserted inside the ear. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The clip on ones are generally more comfortable, but can be less secure as it can be easily knocked off. The one that can be inserted inside the ear is considered more secure fitting, but may be uncomfortable for the user. So what’s the compromise that a user is willing to make when selecting the correct Bluetooth headset?

Today the many advantages that Bluetooth headsets offer has made it a universal popular choice among many.

The simple headset design doesn’t require a user to push too many complicated buttons. Connecting and pairing Bluetooth enables devices is an extremely simple and one step process. Apart from the compatibility it offers for different devices, Bluetooth headsets provides less interference with other wired devices through a technique called spread-spectrum frequency hopping. Also due to its low power usage, low power signals are the result, thus boasting a longer battery life.

With its technology being used world wide, the wireless standard Bluetooth today is ever increasing. More and more manufacturers are making Bluetooth compatible devices. With promising upgrades in the near future, users can look out for cheaper and newer versions for years to come. 

Useful links:

• http://www.bluetomorrow.com/
• http://www.bluetooth.com/bluetooth/